William Tyrrell inquest to focus on new suspect five years since disappearance

An inquest into the disappearance of toddler William Tyrell will begin on Monday with reports the investigation will focus on a new person of interest.

According to The Sun Herald and the Sunday Age, the inquest, which comes almost five years since the little boy was reported missing, will hone in on a man who had never before been discussed in relation to the case.

The inquest, being run by Deputy State Coroner Harriet Graham will reportedly begin by focusing on William’s family with his foster mother set to testify about the emergency call to report William missing that fateful day in 2014.

Further evidence containing at least 15,000 items, is also expected to be handed over to Graham on Monday morning. From this, investigators will reportedly show that the three-year-old was kidnapped from his foster grandmother’s home in Kendall, New South Wales and did not wander into nearby bushland as was initially suggested.

The launch of the inquest follows news earlier this month that the top detective leading the search for William was removed from the case. Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin was taken off the case for alleged misconduct. He was interviewed by Professional Standards over claims he used a mobile phone to record a person without a warrant, according to 7 News. Jubelin made no comment about the matter.

Jubelin had been assigned to William Tyrrell’s case shortly after the young boy went missing from his foster grandmother’s home and had played a significant role in the investigation.

Last year the toddler’s family even took to social media to thank the detective for his assistance in the case in a tribute to William on the anniversary of his disappearance.

Writing in an emotional post on Facebook, the missing boy’s family said: “Today marks 4 tragic years since we last saw little William. 4 years of heartache and 4 years of endless tears for everyone who held him dear – not knowing where he is or what has happened to him.

“Today also marks the gift of unending love, hope and support from across Australia and around the globe.”

William’s devastated family also offered their “heartfelt thanks” to the local community, police and media, among others, for their help in trying to locate William, before urging anyone who may have any information relating to his disappearance to call Crime Stoppers.

Read more: Top detective removed from William Tyrrell investigation for alleged misconduct

“Most of all, to Detective Chief Inspector Gary Jubelin and Strike Force Rosann, you have our complete trust and our deepest gratitude for your continued commitment to finding out what has happened to William,” the post continued.

This followed a four-week forensic search earlier in 2018 of bushland at Kendall not far from where little William vanished in a Spider-Man costume as he played outside. The initial searches focused on only locating William, whereas that particular search in June last year considered the possibility of human intervention.

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